Clinton Binda

CLINTON BINDA is a horse racing trainer proudly sponsored by Hollywoodbets. Along with his loyal team, he trains a number of horses for the Hollywood Syndicate off his private establishment in Lansaria – including DEAGO DELUXE and SEVENTH SON. Learn more about his start in the racing industry, and the team that makes up his stable. Read more here.

What is your star sign and birthdate? My star sign is Virgo and my birthdate is 21 September 1965

Where do you live? I live and train on a plot in Nooitgedacht which is near to Fourways in the North of Johannesburg.

Tell us about your family? I have been married to my wife, Sue, for 24 years & we have two children, Dylan and Dayna.

Do you have a ‘nickname’? No.

Favourite food? Peri-peri chicken or steak & chips.

Favourite drink? Coke.

Favourite music? Anything good.

Favourite sport? Horse racing.

Tell us about your team back at the yard? My team is made up of myself, my assistant Clint, Watson and his team of grooms. Watson has been with me since I started in 2003.

Who was the first trainer you ever worked with? Robin Smith in Zimbabwe.

You have said that Mark Watters taught you a lot in the early days. Do you find that what he taught you then is still significant today? I work my horses very similarly now to how we worked them then. I have just adapted the work to suit my track.

Being a trainer is a tough job. What gives you the most satisfaction about the job? Winning!

With the cost of keeping a horse in training becoming really tough do you have any ideas on how to keep the costs in check? In terms of my own yard I try to do most things myself. I make my own bedding, I shoe my own horses, I transport them myself and I turn them over quickly if they are not going to earn.

You have a popular sponsor in the form of HOLLYWOODBETS.NET. How important is it for a trainer to have a sponsor and what are the benefits thereof? Quite frankly I wouldn’t be where I am now without the support of Hollywoodbets.net. They have supported me right from the beginning.

Outside of racing do you have anything else you are passionate about? I like building machines-mainly those that will make me better at what I do – for example I built my walker and a shavings machine to make our horses’ bedding.

What is your philosophy on the racing game? It’s a game I love. I have more excitement in 60 seconds than some people have in their lives.

What do you think can be done to create excitement into racing to create more enthusiasm from the public? People need to be involved. There is no winning without losing and people need to be involved in the winning side of things.